Dr. Erin Leonard (Principal Investigator)
My research focuses on the ecotoxicology and physiology of animals in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene marks the commencement of significant human impact on Earth's ecosystems. Aquatic animals (insects, molluscs, and fish) are overwhelmed with environmental stressors such as climate change, increased nutrient levels, pollution, acidification, and invasive species. My research aims to understand how the physiology of these animals are impacted by these stressors and the interplay of mulitple stressors, predict the impacts of short- and long-term environmental change on aquatic communities and create solutions to help them continue to thrive. I use a multidisciplinary approach comprised of core techniques in biology, physiology, toxicology, electrophysiology, calcium imaging, chemistry and biogeochemistry. Some of my research supports the development of regulatory tools to determine safe levels of contaminants in aquatic environments.
The Team
Dr. Andrew Thompson - Post Doctoral Researcher
Abbeneet Binning Bath - PhD Student
Samantha Zulian - PhD Student
Mustajab Khalid - MSc Student
Lab Alumni
Olena Kuntyj - PhD Candidate
Natalie Nykamp - PhD Student
Sabrina St-Hilaire - PhD Student
Madeleine Kim - MSc Student
MSc Students
Sabrina St-Hilaire (2023-2025) (co-supervised by Dr. Ève Gilroy) - Investigating the effects of lead fishing gear on a freshwater snail (Planorbella pilsbryi) using a multigenerational and multi-omic approach
Honours Thesis Students
Alexis Dimitropolous (2025-2026) - The effects of temperature and metals on the eye function in northern fish
Lauren Best (2025-2026) (co-supervised by Dr. Jim McGeer) - Modelling neodymium bioavailability by assessing speciation and gill uptake in Arctic char
Mustajab Khalid (2024-2025) - Effects of antidepressants on behaviour and time to LOE in rainbow trout
Natalie Nykamp (2023-2024) - Effects of lead and nickel on a fish’s ability to regulate environmental oxygen
Sabrina St-Hilaire (2022-2023) - Investigating the effects of lead fishing gear on Daphnia magna
Katia Kent (2021-2022) (co-supervised by Dr. Jim McGeer) - Do rare earth elements interfere with a fish’s ability to regulate oxygen?
Directed Studies Students
Alexis Dimitropolous (2025) - Morphological effects on Arctic char larvae exposed to copper and neodymium
Brooklyn Gawthorn (2024) - Chronic lithium toxicity to Daphnia magna
Kaelan Kong (2023-2024) - Lithium toxicity to Daphnia magna
Isaac Beckford (2024) - Behavioural effect of lead, nickel, and hypoxia on fathead minnows
Prapti Parkeh (2023) - Effects of temperature on Daphnia magna toxicity to NaCl
Guntas Khular (2023) - Effects of temperature on NaCl toxicity
Natalie Nykamp (2022) - Effects of neodymium on fathead minnow ventilation and gill bioaccumulation
Sabrina St-Hilaire (2022) - Effects of recreational fishing gear on Daphnia magna and lead bioaccumulation in fishing areas in Ontario
Summer Research Students (NSERC USRA)
Lauren Best (2025)
Natalie Nykamp (2024)
Sabrina St-Hilaire (2023)
Research Assistants
Fiona Weaver (2021-2022) - Evaluated developmental changes in brown adipose tissue, carotid bodies and their abilities to sense and react to stimuli and exploring the intricate communication pathways between varying cell types such as neurons and glial cells